Category: Politics

Residents of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital woke up on Sunday morning to see a series of posters belonging to the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) on display in major areas of the city.

This is coming weeks after a prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Alhaji Abdulrasheed Adebisi Olopoeyan resigned his membership from the party and announced that he would make known his new party structure in due course.

According to Tribune Online, the flag of NNPP has been hoisted at the house of the former PDP chieftain in the Bashorun Area of Ibadan to replace that of the PDP, while some vehicles have already been branded with details of the NNPP.

Speaking on the development, Olopoeyan told Tribune Online that he is now a member of NNPP, but it will be made official tomorrow when the National Secretary of the party, Dipo Olayokun, alongside other principal officers of the party will present the membership card of the party to him.

Olopoeyan stated that: “NNPP has come to stay in Oyo State. In the coming weeks and months, things will start taking proper shape as the party will become a force to reckon with.”

Few hours after Vice President Yemi Osinbajo declared his ambition to contest the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is currently meeting with APC governors in Abuja.

Osinbajo, it would be recalled, served as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State during the administration of Tinubu as Governor of the State.

Both men were believed to be strong ally and it is now clear that they are ready to square it up against each other for the presidential ticket of the party.

Before his declaration, Osinbajo met with 12 APC Governors yesterday, while Tinubu is also said to be currently meeting with 14 governors of APC.

Tinubu, according to sources, called the meeting with the APC Governors to share his vision for the country with them before formal declaration having met other party stakeholders and leaders of thoughts across the country.

The meeting is currently going on at the Kebbi State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja.

ODUDUWA NEWS has just gathered that the Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Atakumosa East Central Local Government of Osun State, Chief Gbenga Ogbara, has been killed by unknown gunmen.

The APC Chairman, according to sources, was shot dead inside his sitting room in Igangan, his hometown, around 12am today.

It was learnt that Ogbara’s corpse has been deposited at Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesa.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Osun Command, Mrs Yemisi Opalola, confirmed the incident.

Opalola said: “The APC Chairman was killed around 12am by some gunmen. Policemen have since been deployed to the area. Investigation is ongoing on the matter. The criminals will not escape justice.”

The Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has finally thrown his hat in the ring as among contestants to battle erstwhile Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu on APC Presidential ticket in the forthcoming general elections.

This was contained in a declaration video made available today via his Official Twitter handle as read in part:

“For the past seven (7) years, I have served as Vice President under a true Nigerian patriot, President Muhammadu Buhari.

“In these 7 years, while on the train of duty and service, I traversed every part of our country, meeting Nigerians of every cadre, class, tribe and walks of life, both young and old; I MET YOU.

“I’ve stood where you stand and sat where you sit. I know and I understand our hopes, aspirations and fears from a place of relatable proximity; and I believe that in those hopes and aspirations are the seeds for the great Nigeria that we all desire.

“I believe that the very reason why the Almighty God gave me these experiences, these insights, and these opportunities, is that they must be put to the use of our country and its great peoples.

“This is why today, with utmost humility, I formally declare my intention to run for the office of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, on the platform of our great party, the All Progressives Congress.

“I also most solemnly and respectfully seek your support as fellow Nigerians everywhere in this land and the diaspora, as we embark on this great and exciting journey that lies ahead of us”.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is hosting members of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), to Iftar at his official residence, Akinola Aguda House in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Sources close to the office of the Vice President hinted Osinbajo would use the occasion to consult with the Governors on his rumoured presidential ambition.

As at 6:45pm, not less than six Governors, including Mallam Nasir El-Rufa’i (Kaduna) and Dapo Abiodun (Ogun) were already within the premises.

Other APC Governors seen driven in before the 7pm scheduled time for the gathering were: Hope Uzodinma (Imo); Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos) and Gboyega Oyetola (Osun).

A source told The Nation Oyetola is in far away Makkah, Saudi Arabia, for the lesser Hajj (Umrah), fuelling speculations the Governor’s car might have conveyed his Deputy Benedict Alabi.

The meeting, which seemed exclusive to only the invited Governors and some of their aides, did not admit journalists in the premises of the Vice President’s residence.

Details Shortly…

Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, said there would have been no reason for agitation in Nigeria if the government had developed the country and protected the lives and properties of the citizens the way the government of Benin Republic had done for its people.

Igboho, who spoke during a conversation with the leader of the Ilano Omo Oodua, Prof Banji Akintoye, and his deputy, Prof Wale Adeniran, and a few others in the Republic of Benin, said, “What was the cause of my coming out and running around to go demand a better country?
“If Nigeria were to be like Benin Republic of today, what would have made me come out? If our country, Nigeria were like Benin, I would have no reason to agitate because there’s nothing that I want, that God hasn’t given me.

“I have been visiting Benin Republic since 1996; at that time, the police were always at checkpoints collecting bribes from motorists, but when the incumbent President got into power, he eradicated the act.

“In those days, although numerous police officers were always on the streets, stealing and killings were prevalent, but the new President brought that to a halt, and he made a law that DPOs would be held accountable for the actions of thieves operating within their jurisdictions.

“He increased the salary of the police personnel. Benin Republic police officers are paid three times more than Nigerian police officers. There are no more police checkpoints here in Benin, and no matter how far you travel, you’ll not be accosted by thieves on the highway.

“Soldiers will not harass you, and no one will bother you. There are no cows and Fulani herdsmen. That’s the kind of government that we want. I spent over seven months in a prison here in Benin.

“For those seven months, there was no blackout and we never ran out of water. I was stunned. Foreigners are trooping into Benin Republic; the government is building infrastructure and the President is investigating the projects.

“The people of Benin Republic ought to appreciate God for the kind of leader He has given them. If we have such a government in Nigeria, no one will agitate. Citizens will be happy in a country where the government provides stable power supply, adequate security, and adequate water supply, because that is a good government.”

Speaking further, he said, “All praise be to God because one’s journey and deeds in life are in His hands. He is the master planner who plans how everything goes; hence we must be thankful to Him.

“It was false news that I was sick. I am hale and hearty, and I don’t even look like a person who has been to prison. The President of the Republic of Benin made life easier for me. He didn’t allow me to go through any pain, and I pray that Benin Republic will never be destroyed.”

The Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has said irrespective of location, Nigerians will be proud to identify with their country if he is elected as president in the 2023 elections.

The cleric gave the assurance during a virtual meeting tagged ‘Unveiling Project 16 to Nigerians in Diaspora’, with the theme ‘The portrait of a new Nigeria’, organised by the PTB4Nigeria in diaspora group on Saturday.

Bakare, who declared his intention to contest the 2023 presidential election during the meeting, was a running mate in 2011 to the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), under the platform of Congress for Progressive Change.

Speaking on his plans if elected as president, the cleric noted that his administration will make the “New Nigeria” dream a reality.

The campaign organization of Peoples Democratic Party PDP candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Osun State has debunked rumour flying around that the Senator has withdrawn from the race.

This was contained in a statement made available to ODUDUWA NEWS by the office of the Campaign Organization as read in part:

“Our attention has been drawn to an evil conjecture by a fake news agent to the effect that Senator Ademola Adeleke is considering withdrawing from the governorship race.

“The tormented mind also alleged that infighting is creating internal turmoil within the Adeleke campaign organisation

“We want to assure our teeming supporters that the entire piece by the APC agent has no substance and is mere concoctions from defeated minds who are now actively working for the ruling party. Senator Adeleke remains a superbly popular candidate who is poised to win the July election.

“We want to place on records that the alleged legal crisis is a figment of the imagination of bad losers. As at today, Senator Adeleke has no legal constraint. Just yesterday, the Boot party withdrew their bogus court action with apologies. APC agents supported by APC lawyers are running round to secure relief where none exists in their bid to undermine the people’s Democratic Party.

“Senator Adeleke is the official Candidate of the PDP who enjoys the full backing of local and national leaders of the party. His inner and outer caucus are in strong harmony and the campaign organisation is only waiting in compliance with INEC guidelines before kickstarting the campaigns. We assure the party members that there is no crack within the organisation and all hands are on deck to secure victory.

“On the National Assembly election, Senator Ademola Adeleke and his family have no preferred or annointed aspirant. The party’s guideline for candidate selection is clear and Senator Adeleke has repeated severally that he has no endorsed aspirant. The party delegates are to decide the eventual flagbearers for the National Assembly offices.

“To the people of Osun State, we assure them the PDP is not only ready for good governance but our candidate is electable and empowered to sufficiently take the state to a greater height”.

Nigerian separatist, Sunday “Igboho” Adeyemo, has said President Patrice Talon of Benin Republic saved him from the “murderous” Nigerian government.

Lagos Reporter’s reports that Igboho is accused of stoking ethnic tensions in Nigeria after targeting Fulani herders.

Last year, he emerged as the latest figure calling for a Yoruba nation in the country’s south-west.

In early July 2021, he fled the country after authorities raided his home in Ibadan, Oyo State, as they cracked down on separatist figures.

He would be eventually arrested in Benin Republic by the French-speaking country’s authorities while trying to flee to Germany.

On Friday, Igboho met with members of his legal team in Cotonou, Benin Republic.

He had been given a conditional release from prison in Benin Republic eight months after he was detained there.

“There is no security; there is nothing in Nigeria. And when you want to speak against all these, they would try to kill you. What was my offence? Do I deserve to be killed?” Igboho, speaking in Yoruba language, asked rhetorically.

“When I was arrested, many people did not understand. Truly, Nigeria used all her power. Nigeria requested for me to be handed over to them by the Benin Government. So President Talon said he wants to investigate me. So he said if it is about politics and human rights, it is against the law for them to hand me over to the Nigerian government. That is the why all Yoruba people should thank President Talon on my behalf.”

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate in the forthcoming governorship election in Ekiti State, Chief Segun Oni, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP, Usman Baba, and the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Magaji Bichi, over alleged assassination attempt on his life by political thugs.

The 18-paragraph petition dated April 7, 2022, titled ‘Re: Attempted Assassination of Engr. (Chief) Olusegun Oni, former Governor of Ekiti State and Gubernatorial Candidate of Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ekiti State in the forthcoming Governorship Election in the state’, was signed by Mr. Owoseni Ajayi, the principal partner of Owoseni Ajayi and Associates of Equity Chambers.

In the petition, which was made available to journalists by the Media Director of his Campaign, Mr. Jackson Adebayo, in Ado Ekiti, yesterday, Oni urged the heads of the security agencies to strengthen his personal security in view of the attack, which he described as politically motivated.

He urged the police to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the mayhem that happened on Wednesday April 6, 2022 at Efon Alaaye, which was allegedly led by the All Progressives Congress (APC) youth leader in the local council.

According to him, the attempt was meant to assassinate him because of his growing popularity. He urged the security agencies to immediately bring the culprits to book to serve as a deterrent to others who may want to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state.

The petition read in part: “We are counsel to Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ekiti State whose gubernatorial candidate in the forthcoming gubernatorial election is the former governor of Ekiti State, Engr. (Chief) Olusegun Oni. On their behalf and instruction, we write this letter as follows:

“That since the campaign had been declared open for the gubernatorial election in Ekiti State by the INEC, the SDP led by its flag bearer, Oni, had commenced its campaign starting with Town Hall meetings at the headquarters of the respective local governments in the state.

“That the campaign itineraries are with the full observance of due process, which include: (i) Written information to the police including its Divisional Police Headquarters for security cover. (ii) Written security cover information to the INEC. (iii) Peaceful conduct of its members.

“So far, the campaign had visited seven local government headquarters to hold the Town Hall meetings with its members with the massive turnout but without any hitch.

“That on Wednesday, April 6, 2022, it was the turn of Efon Alaaye Local Government, Efon.

“That at about 3pm, the venue for the reception of Engr. Segun Oni and his entourage was set for their arrival.

“That at about 3.30pm, the gubernatorial campaign team led by its candidate arrived at the venue.

“That as the team was about embarking from their various vehicles, the APC hoodlums led by its Youth Leader in the local government, Mr. Oluwafemi Gbenga, a.k.a Owolesu attacked the ground venue with dangerous weapons like gun, machetes, charms.

“That in the process of the attack, several people were wounded and vehicles vandalised.

“That it took a later intervention of a detachment of police men from the Division Station at Efon before the hoodlums were overpowered because they initially overwhelmed the policemen stationed at the venue.

“That the gubernatorial candidate, Engr. Segun Oni escaped death by whisker as his vehicle was attacked.”